Five Tips for Strengthening Firm Culture

four colleagues chatting around a water cooler

Make it work for you.

By Martin Bissett
Passport to Partnership

Cultural issues are dynamic, very broad and unique in each firm. As such it is a challenge to summarize them accurately and comprehensively.

MORE by Martin Bissett
GoProCPA.comExclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

From our research, however, the wise choice for anyone wishing to get their passport to partnership appears to be to study

  • their firm’s existing culture,
  • that of its senior individuals and
  • that of those who have the ear of those senior individuals

to understand not only the route to partnership, but the terrain that they need to cross too.
READ MORE →

Bissett Bullet: Three Little Words

Today’s Bissett Bullet: “Which three words would you use to describe your firm and the work you do for clients? If you struggle to give an immediate and instinctive answer, then this would suggest an onward problem in articulating it to clients.”

By Martin Bissett

Why not ask for this input from existing clients? Asking clients what it is you do for them in terms of outcomes will enable you to understand their perception of the firm and what they might say to a potential referral.

This also provides insight into what they value about the service you provide, which is a critical retention tool, especially if they are themselves what you would consider to be your ideal client. Their story and how you’ve helped them can then be leveraged within your marketing messaging to help you attract more Grade A clients.

Today’s To-Do:

Pick up the phone to a Grade A client. Ask them how they would describe you in three words to a fellow business owner and find out which they feel is the most valuable outcome you have achieved for them.

See more Bissett Bullets here

READ MORE →

Four Questions about Your Partnership Readiness

confident businesswoman seated at desk

Plus a five-point checklist.

By Martin Bissett
Passport to Partnership

The Passport to Partnership study collated a number of responses in a conversational style.

MORE by Martin Bissett
GoProCPA.comExclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

But two brief but succinct examples on the realities of how a firm assesses an individual’s “competence” for leadership are showcased really stood out:

  1. They need to explain technical data to me in a way that I know they understand.

  2. What kind of lifestyle does this person have outside of work? We’ll be looking at Facebook, X and Google to find out.

READ MORE →

Bissett Bullet: How Much is Too Much?

Today’s Bissett Bullet: “What level of detail should I go into during my first meeting with a prospective client?”

By Martin Bissett

There is no hard or fast rule and so the answer to this question is – it depends. The level of detail should be governed by how much the business is willing to discuss their situation with us. When it comes to talking about them, their business and what they find challenging, there is no such thing as too much detail. The more you discover, the better your understanding will be of how you can best help them and the stronger your proposal will be as a result.

Today’s To-Do:

In readiness for your next meeting, remember – the two things you don’t want to do are a) talk about price and b) bore them rigid with the ins and outs of YOUR firm. Arrive ready to talk about THEM.

See more Bissett Bullets here

READ MORE →

What Young Accounting Pros Need to Make Partner

older woman showing young woman something on office computer screen

Four experts provide their insights.

By Martin Bissett
Passport to Partnership

The skill in producing financial reports is limited by the quality of the information presented to the CPA by the client. The motivation of the client to influence that financial information comes in many forms, some intentional and some unintentional. Competence comes first in being able to resist pressure and present a true and accurate position of the client’s organization.

MORE by Martin Bissett
GoProCPA.comExclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But there’s a twist.

Competence didn’t actually rank highly in the majority of partner requirements when interviewed in our study at all.
READ MORE →